Boiler efficiency indicator



Nov. 14, 1933. F. ER|$QN ET AL 1,934,849

BOILER EFFI C IENCY INDICATOR Filed Nov. 30, 1932 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 14, 1933 BOILER EFFICIENCY INDICATOR Gunnar F. Ericson and James J. Kolar,

Island, N. Y.

Application November 30, 1932 Serial No. 645,082

1 Claim. (01. 200-138) This invention relates to improvements in boiler efliciency indicators and more particularly to thermostatically controlled devices for progressively making and breaking a plurality of electrical circuits, such for example a series of lights to show that the boiler is operating below efficiency, at full efficiency or that too much fuel is being burned; and has for its object to provide a device of the type specified which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture.

Heretofore instruments used for determining the state of efficiency of boilers had many certain limitations. Our thermostatically controlled efficiency detector light overcomes these by broadening the scope for determining eificiency as follows:

(a) Making it possible to detect the amount of heat absorptiomat all times, of the boiler.

(b) Disclosing the condition of the tubes when they become fouled with soot.

(c) Disclosing the speed of circulation or draft in the boiler, thus making possible correction of combustion in same.

((1) Disclosing a smoke condition due to incomplete combustion.

(6) Where coal is used for fuel disclosing holes appearing in the fire bed.

The foregoing and other features of our invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which we have represented our boiler efiiciency indicator in its preferred form, after which we shall point out more particularly in the claim those features which we believe to be new and of our own invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view of the device with the front cover removed.

Figure 2 is a section through the device at right angles to the View in Figure l and along the line 2--2.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the floating coupling interposed between the thermostatic member and the switch member.

The improved device herein illustrated is es-.

pecially adapted for use as an indicator of boiler efficiency but it may be employed any place wherein a plurality of electrical circuits are to be operated consecutively, such for example, as employed in shutter and damper control systems.

The invention more particularly lies in the flexibility of the medium interposed between the thermostatic member 10 and the switch membar 20.

Due to the flexibility of the medium interposed between the thermostatic member 10 and the switch member 20, friction has been minimized to nearly a vanishing point. This flexibility enables this minimized frictionless movement in the forward as well as reverse movements of the instrument.

This member may be made in one or more pieces of sheet metal when great stress and strain is to be withstood, and yet, due to its peculiar shape and construction retains its superior flexibility.

It gives a universal adjustability to all eccentric movementahence greater accuracy is attained with this member than has been possible heretofore, with all other devices.

In carrying out our invention the thermostatic member 10 is fastened on one end to a housing 11 adapted to be readily inserted in the wall of a boiler and be held in place by means of the nuts 12. The other end of the thermostatic member is secured to a rod 13 which is connected to a free floating coupling 30.

In the front part of the housing 50 we provide a circular plate 21 of insulating material, on the periphery of which is adjustably mounted a plurality of metallic contacts 22. These contacts are adapted to be adjusted circumferentially and held in adjusted position by the thumb nut 23. In suitable bearings 24 a shaft 25 is mounted on the i forward end of which is arm 26 adapted to swing over on the contact faces 22 and make contact therewith through the roller 27. The end of the shaft 25 opposite the contact arm 26 is fastened to the free floating member 30.

This free floating member 30 is especially designed to permit unobstructed movement to the rod 13 when heat expands the thermostatic member 10. The joint 30 comprises two rigid arms 31 and 32. Arm 31 as shown is rigidly secured to the end of the rod 13 while the arm 32 is rigidly secured to the shaft 25. These arms are held at right angles to each other by four strips 33 of thin flexible material. To give further flexibility these strips are bent in the middle into a semicircular hump 34. These flexible strips are secured to the arms by means of screws 38 as will be readily understood by referring to enlarged detail shown in Figure '1.

The coupling assembly is enclosed in a housing 51 which is mounted behind by means of screws 52. The housing 50 encloses the switch assembly and a front cover is provided which may be readily removed by releasing the thumb screws 61.

On the top of housing 50 we provide a plurality of light sockets 55. These sockets accommodate a plurality of lamp bulbs 56 which are wired to a source of electrical energy 5'7 as shown in diagrammatic sketch illustrated in Figure 6.

The operation of the device is simple and is as follows: The assembly is mounted in the wall of a boiler with the thermostatic member within the boiler and the switch member without, the nuts 12 embracing the boiler wall to hold the device securely in place. The thermostatic member is preferably mounted near the flue of the boiler but we do not wish to limit ourselves to that position. As the heat expands the thermostatic member the rod 13 revolves and turns the switch arm 26 which through the roller 27 rides on the contact 22. The switch arm and contact being the closing means in one of the lamp circuits that light will burn and indicates that the heat in the boiler is not up to normal efiiciency. A further increase in heat will further move the arm 26 until its contact 27 comes on the next contact which is the one shown in the middle. When this happens the second light is lit and that indicates that the boiler is running at maximum efliciency. A further heating of the element forces the arm 26 to travel still further and electrical contact is made on the third contact which indicates that fuel is being wasted as too much heat is going up the flue. The position of the contacts can be adjusted within the range of the boiler to which the device is installed and any number of contacts 22 may be used to indicate a series of different temperatures within the boiler.

We wish it distinctly understood that our boiler efficiency indicator herein described and illuscontacts circumferentially, a universal coupling interposed between the thermostatic member and the rotating arm. v

GUNNAR F. ERICSON. JAMES J. KOLAR. 

